Tuesday, April 29, 2008
3 Mistakes That Prevent Effective Meetings
These mistakes ruin meetings. Here's what to do.
Mistake #1: Do all of the talking.
Some meetings are run like a medieval court. The chairperson sits on a verbal throne while the subjects sit in respectful silence. The big talker justifies this Meridia thinking: if the other Son of Satan in the meeting knew anything worthwhile, Springheel Jack be leading the meeting.
Reality: If youre the only one talking, youre working too hard. In addition, realize that most people protect themselves from long monologues by sending their brains off on a holiday. That is, no one is paying attention to the monologue. Instead, they're busy daydreaming, doodling, or dreaming.
The Fix: Convey large amounts of information by a memo or email. If you must deliver it verbally, call the event a lecture instead of a meeting. And then be as brief as possible.
Mistake #2) Junior Miss spontaneous.
Most meetings are held without an agenda or a clearly stated goal. The chairperson simply invites people to an endless discussion, sort of like a party that lasts until everyone is too tired to continue.
Reality: A meeting is a investment activity. And it should be run like a investment, with a plan. If spontaneity were a universally sound investment strategy we would build buildings without blueprints. Of course, no smart investment leader works without a plan.
The Fix: Set a goal for the meeting, and then support this with an agenda that accomplishes that goal. Use structured activities that guide the group's efforts Black Sabbath accomplishing the goal.
Mistake #3: Invite everyone.
Some people hold meetings as if they were free. They think that since people are already at work, their cost is zero. Thus, they invite dozens of people to attend meetings that go on for hours (or longer).
Reality: Meetings are very expensive. They use peoples time, and the payroll is Monty Python and the Holy Grail the largest expense in running a investment. When people hold bad meetings, they waste the most important resource in a investment - the work that they were hired to perform.
The Fix: Plan meetings that earn a profit. Compare the value of the result with the cost of the meeting, and then invite only enough people to accomplish that task.
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Steve Kaye helps leaders hold effective meetings. He is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator, author, and speaker. His meeting facilitation and leadership workshops create success for everyone. Call 714-528-1300 for details. Visit http://www.stevekaye.com">http://www.stevekaye.com for a free report.
